Chevron’s operation faces shutdown over casualization of Itsekiri graduates in VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6

Operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL in Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas of Delta State, might be shut-down in the next 28days, by members of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, if the oil and gas major fails to implement, “reclassification of our Itsekiri Graduates of VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6”.

Fresh Angle International  can report that the ultimatum, which takes effect from Monday August 16, was the fallout of an enlarged media briefing, held at the National Secretariat of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG in Warri, Delta State, Monday August 16.

President of NAIG, Comrade Ben Eyitemi Eburajolor, who addressed newsmen on behalf the association, declared that the 146 members of NAIG in VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6 programmes, should be engaged as staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited or else they will take their destinies in their own hands and shutdown the company’s operation in Itsekiri land.

Comrade Ben Eburajolor, addressing newsmen

Eburajolor, stated that the affected Itsekiri graduate trainees, were promised employment and asked to resign their former jobs by Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, saying they have been found competent in their various locations and non has violated any of the company’s laid down rules, regulations or safety procedures. 

According to him, the time difference between the VTP4, who were reclassified January 1st, 2015 and VTP5/OTP2, was just 6months and all the OTP2 were deplored to field, before the VTP4 to assist in the then acute personnel shortage in various offshore locations. 

“On the Job Learning (OJL) has since been completed by both VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6

“Crude oil price that they claimed was the reason for not reclassifying then, has since risen and stable to above $70/pbl. Meanwhile, VTP4 was reclassified with a price below $40/pbl.

“His Majesty, the Olu of Warri Ogiame Ikenwoli of blessed memory, intervened on behalf of them (Chevron) in 2017 and the management of CNL promised to do the needful the following year, which was 2018, but till now, nothing has been done or heard from them”, Eburajolor emphasized.

While claiming that an official of Chevron (name withheld) who is the present Joint Venture Director (JVD) of Chevron Nigeria Limited, has vowed that over his dead body, will the 146 Itsekiris be reclassified, NAIG accused some Itsekiri leaders of: “Aiding and abetting CNL to use and dump our VTP5/OTP2 & VTP6 brothers and sisters, because of their selfish gains. As an association, we say no to saboteurs”.

NAIG demanded: “It should be noted that their reclassification should be backdated to January 2016 and January 2017 for VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6 respectively; Resume Operation and Maintenance (O & M) training with employment immediately as enshrined in our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); Community development in oil producing areas should resumed immediately and All Itsekiri host community to CNL should be given electricity and portable drinking water”.

The Management of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL through the Company’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, PGPA, Esimaje Brikinn, had on June 27, 2017 in a press statement, stressed that its: “Effort to sponsor eligible trainees for Operations & Maintenance Vocational Training Program (VTP) was in accordance with its goal to help build skills and capacities of the trainees to become more competitive in Nigeria economy”, adding: “The trainees were contacted by the training provider, Prime Atlantic Cegelec Nigeria Limited, PACE and each trainee, has a contract for an On-the Job Learning (OJL) trainee position at CNL production facility”.

From left: Akperi Itse, Oritseneye Fredrick, Ellis Bibi, Thomas Ekpoto, Ben Eburajolor, Eyituoyo Omadoye & others, during the press briefing 

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